Irishness as a microtrend

From cutting up Claddagh rings to learning Gaelic, is this true advocacy for Ireland?

The Irish flag has seemingly taken the internet by storm; but how has the culture and existence of a country become a fashionable trend? Last year, the Irish Hip-Hop band Kneecap released a movie detailing their rise to fame, becoming the first Irish language film to be premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Fellow band, Fontaines DC, has also received unprecedented levels of fame, signifying a spotlight on artists producing music in the Irish language. This spotlight has been welcomed as a too-late opportunity for the world to respect Irish culture, but when does appreciation become fetishisation?

The act of being Irish has hit a certain level of virality on social media, prompting people from all over the world, predominantly America, to explore whatever meagre heritage they may have. Despite how strange it may seem for a nationality to be stylish; it has at least removed feelings of otherness from being Irish. Historically, Irish people have repeated experiences of being mocked for their Irishness, such as Gaelic names being mocked for their spelling and pronunciation. Kneecap is the first Irish language band to receive international recognition, before which music artists writing in Gaelic were few and far between - never really breaking out of the Irish music scene. 

Though, despite online discourse concerning Irishness being seemingly dominated by Americans, I have particularly felt this surge in interest in Scotland. I think that many Scottish people feel an alliance between themselves and Ireland, as both countries have historically fought tooth and nail to receive independence; with neither yet being successful. Both countries have worked hard to maintain the survival of their respective cultures and languages from anglicisation.

Speaking to a student from Trinity College Dublin, I gleaned an idea of what this sudden interest in Ireland feels like to a young person who has lived there her entire life. Geneviève, as a Gaelic speaker herself, recognises the positive and negative advocacy found through social media, that despite how “silly” some of the attention has been, it is still allowing people to take more pride in their Irish roots. However, that being said, Geneviève expresses more concern over infantilisation than fetishisation. 

Cutting the crowns off of Claddagh rings as an anti-monarchist statement is devoid of meaning, the crowns are symbolic of loyalty, not the King

The stereotype of an Irish person is starkly recognisable and usually comes in the form of two things: a cheery, red-cheeked drunk man, or a mythical fairy-like being. Both of these stereotypes are incredibly condescending. An example of this form of infantilisation in pop culture is seen in fan’s perception of Irish musician, Hozier. Hozier is continuously depicted and described by his fan base as almost inhuman, fairy-like and fictitious, some ‘mythical forest warlock’. In reality, Hozier is a thirty-four-year-old man, a mortal at that. The extreme aestheticisation of Irish people and culture removes humanity, it allows people to assume a cognitive dissonance that fails to view Irish struggles and oppression as factual and tangible.

Furthermore, there is a distinct misunderstanding of Irish traditions and experiences. Cutting the crowns off of Claddagh rings as an anti-monarchist statement is devoid of meaning, the crowns are symbolic of loyalty, not the King - a fact that someone would know if they took the time to adequately educate themselves. Increased interest in Kneecap has sparked conversations about the IRA, discourse which is dangerous to engage in without historical knowledge. Shallow interest motivated by trends and fashions in lieu of education in regard to sensitive issues is a danger, and one we need to call out.

The very continuation of microtrends is rooted in fast fashion, meaning that within a couple of months the style icons of now will be forgotten for another trend. So, what happens when Irish iconography is no longer cool, will Shein’s Claddagh hoop earrings reappear in our landfills? An entire culture, based on such a rich history, cannot simply be pushed under the bed for the next fad.

It seems that smaller nations are cursed to be forced to accept any kind of advocacy and exposure, no matter how damaging it is. In this case, between cultural misrepresentation, the environmental damage of fast fashion, and a general trivialisation of Irish struggles, I believe the negatives outweigh the positives. Unfortunately, not all attention is good attention. That being said, speaking Gaelic is a radical political act in itself, it doesn’t need to become a TikTok trend across the pond to matter.

Published 10 June 2025